Stormy and defining Assembly sessions ahead in Telangana

As the Assembly doors open on Saturday (August 30, 2025) for the sessions, the Judicial Commission report on Kaleshwaram and the BC reservations debate will dominate Telangana’s political discourse in the weeks ahead, setting the tone for battles to come.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is expected to lead the charge, tabling the PC Ghose Commission report on the Kaleshwaram project, portraying former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao as the man behind its ‘failure’, and also pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into a corner with a debate on the 42% reservations to Backward Classes (BCs) in the local body polls.

Mr. Reddy is gearing up to portray Mr. KCR as the architect of a project that not just drained the exchequer but also raised several issues related to enineering disasters. The move will not just be procedural but a calculated political offensive aimed at Mr. KCR, who is under pressure to attend the Assembly and defend his decisions.

The report, submitted to the State government, concluded that there were glaring lapses in the planning, execution, and maintenance of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, and that it was not an “engineering marvel” as claimed by the BRS during its two terms.

Mr. KCR has already moved the High Court to challenge the Commission’s findings, only to be told that it should be tabled in the Assembly for discussion before some relief is expected. The Congress will use his likely absence from the session as proof of evasion.

Speaker unlikely to entertain BRS plea

The BRS has sought permission from the Assembly Speaker to make its own PowerPoint presentation on the project. But it expects refusal by the Congress government citing Mr. KCR’s own denial of a similar request by Congress in 2015.

While defending itself through speeches and protests, the BRS is also preparing to counterattack by highlighting the government’s failures on the shortage of urea, denial of Rythu Bandhu payment to thousands of farmers, and inadequate relief for farmers affected by the recent unprecedented rains.

Govt to target BJP, Centre

The government is also set to push the 42% reservations issue into the centre of the debate. The two bills passed by the Telangana Assembly to increase BC reservations in education, employment, and political representation are still pending with the Union government.

The Centre has neither acted nor secured Presidential assent, creating discomfort to the BJP here, though it looks in a combative mode. While blaming the BJP, the Government is working on three options from its side to ensure justice to BCs in the local body polls. It also expects no positive decision from the Centre right now.

The BJP, which is trying to position itself as an alternative to the BRS in Telangana politics, faces a peculiar dilemma. On the Kaleshwaram issue, it has limited room to manoeuvre in its favour, but will blame the Congress for not taking action against Mr. KCR and others so far.

At the same time, it finds itself in the direct line of fire. With the Centre yet to take a decision on the 42% quota, state BJP leaders are expected to face the heat. Silence could hurt its credibility.